Neck Doctor in Anchorage, Alaska

Neck pain isn’t just frustrating; it can also be serious. That’s true whether it presents in isolation or it is accompanied by spinal pain, back pain, and other symptoms. For patients with neck pain, it’s important to seek treatment from an orthopedic surgeon with specialized knowledge of the bones, joints and muscles of the cervical spine. These surgeons offer the latest in orthopedic care and surgical procedures for pain relief and restored function.

When should you see a neck surgeon? Having a stiff neck or a little soreness can be normal. However, you should see a neck specialist if:

• You have neck pain that radiates to your extremities.
• You have neck pain, numbness, or tingling that lasts more than a couple of days.
• Your neck pain is accompanied by other symptoms, including a headache or spine pain.
• Your neck pain is the result of a traumatic accident.
• Your neck pain affects your sleep or impedes you from completing daily tasks.

If you experience any of the symptoms above, we recommend you see one of our neck pain specialists. Your doctor will diagnose your neck, back, or spine condition and provide the proper treatment plan. Some of the most common diagnoses our neck doctors see include:

• Broken bone or fracture in or around the neck
• Cervical arthritis
• Cervical spinal stenosis
• Chronic neck pain
• Degenerative disc disease
• Hereditary spine conditions
• Herniated disc(s), or cervical disc herniation
• Neck muscle strains
• Nerve or spinal cord damage
• Pinched nerve or damaged nerve roots
• Recurring spasm
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Spinal deformity
• Spondylolisthesis
• Whiplash

Neck Care at Alaska Fracture & Orthopedic Clinic

When you meet with one of our neck care specialists, the first step is evaluation. This means your neck doctor will take your medical history, provide a physical examination, and potentially request some imaging, such as X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This allows the doctor to provide an accurate sense of what’s causing your pain and to recommend the surgery, medicine, or nonsurgical procedure that will help you feel better.

Whenever possible, we provide our patients with nonoperative treatments. There are a number of treatment options, including physical therapy, medication, steroid injections, and other forms of spine care, such as spinal cord stimulation and nerve root blocks.

In some cases, surgery may be necessary. Our surgeons strive to use minimally invasive methods in spine surgery, and they will work with you to develop the surgical plan right for you. The most common neck surgeries include:

• Artificial disc replacement surgery
• Cervical discectomy surgery
• Fusion surgery, including cervical fusion
• Laminectomy surgery
• Reconstructive surgery

Your surgeon can explain the necessary spine or neck surgery as well as the recovery process. Our spine surgeons are fellowship-trained in the specialized treatment of spine and neck injuries and conditions. Additionally, our board-certified physiatrist may be able to provide you with advanced nonsurgical spine treatment for certain neck conditions.